Services

BEN Morgan returned to the England side to help them beat Wales 29-18 and lift the Triple Crown for the first time in 11 years at Twickenham on Sunday.

After impressing as a replacement from the bench in the first three games of the Six Nations, the former Dursley player replaced the injured Billy Vunipola at No8 and had a fine game as England kept their title hopes alive.

Saracens prop Mako Vunipola, who grew up in Thornbury, came on for the final 16 minutes and former Frampton Cotterell youth player Dave Attwood replaced Joe Launchbury at lock with seven minutes to go to help England hold onto their lead.

Morgan is expected to keep his place for the final game against Italy in Rome on Saturday, where second-placed England will be hoping a victory will be enough to win the Six Nations.

Three teams are on six points with Ireland, who are currently top with a much healthier points difference, and France meeting in Paris.

"Ireland are a quality side," said England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

"But France on their day at home, with something to play for - who knows?

"But we can't control that, we're first up. We've got a proud Italian side to play against who gave us a hard time two years ago and gave us a hard time last year at Twickenham.

"So we've got to get our heads right and do what we can do and control the controllables for us."

Meanwhile, England under-20s captain Callum Braley missed their corresponding Six Nations clash with Wales after failing a late fitness test.

The Bristol scrum half from Coalpit Heath was replaced by Henry Taylor as England won 67-7 at Kingston Park.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here